O Sole Mio Port Solent — Restaurant in Portsmouth

Iv eaten here every month since April...and it was amazing. But, last time I sent my food back. Tasteless and DROWNING in oil... The waitress told me, its not oil because we don't use oil, its butter...eye roll, no appology just sarcasm. Everything else we ordered was great, in fact my brother said the best calzone he ever had. They removed the bad dish from the bill and I thought just a one off issue. However, last night took my sicilian friend and everything was terrible. The waitress was throwing stuff around one table was laughing at the noise she was creating...and then the food...everything tasted frozen, ready made, precooked...the cheese was like sponge, the ham dried upp and stuck, the tomatoes were tasteless, the pasta was tasteless and fish tasted like cooked from a packet, supposed to be white wine sause...again SWIMMING IN OIL or butter?!... the pizza was tasteless and dry...the bottles of oil and balsamic on the tables are disgusting - old and refilled with watery tasteless oil of some description, which they admitted too when we asked for some proper olive oil. We were promised everything is fresh and italian ...the frozen bread rolls and packets of butter REALLY?!...70 quid later I'm bitterly disappointed. The quality of resturant as Port Solent is lacking so this was my go to when taking friends out. But twice now its been bad enough to send back, speak to the staff about it and embarrassing for me. Shame because I want to spend my money with small local independents. Views are great and sunny spot outside if that counts for anything. Are Specials really specials if they are the same for 5 months...lobster tortellini beautiful but again last time tasted reheated or from...

Great food, reasonably priced, good atmosphere, good service and you can sit outside on the boardwalk if you want. Good wholesome italian food

So we have visited twice more since my original review and Im dissapointed to say this place has fallen way below acceptable now for a restaurant charging above average prices. My wifes birthday recently so I booked a table for 8 people we arrived on time shown to our table and waited, and waited, and waited 40mins before a waitress asked us for drinks order (I had asked other waitresses but apparently they couldnt understand or it was not their role to do drinks). Anyway drinks order in we waited another 20mins for the drinks by which time we were ready to order so asked the drinks waitress to take our food order to which she replied - only the owner takes food orders and he was busy so we waited another 30mins for him to take our order - I would just like to add at this point we were considering just going to the Harvester next door. Food came and I had fried mozzarella starter which was cold, main course was a pasta dish which had either been reheated or the pasta had been overcokked as it was really tough pasta certainly not fresh. The other people in our group were not really blown away by the food and as the bi came to some £250 its fair to say we wont be returning any time soon there are certainly a lit better Italian restaurant in Portsmouth...

Had a staff leaving meal here midweek. We had chosen our meals from a set menu before arriving. The restaurant was warm and had a good feel about it, the staff were friendly to us and others. When people left at least one member said goodbye. Drinks were typical restaurant prices for the area, although spirits were rather pricey. What I wanted was £5 for just 25ml, didn't ask if that included a mixer, so I went for a pepsi instead (£3)

The food; I've included pictures, looked great and tasted even better. The chicken was cooked perfectly, not dry at all. The sauce was delicious and reminded me of my mum's cooking when I was a kid. The cheesecake, just amazing, best I've every tasted. It was like a soft, thick, creamy moose rather than the usual harder baked cheesecake style. I could have scoffed many more slices easily. Price of the meal I don't know as the boss paid for it all. There were a few other large tables but there were several free tables so you could possibly have walked in for a meal, I'd recommend booking though, especially weekends. Would have given 5 stars but some of the drinks were over priced. Would definitely recommend as a place to eat and I will revisit...